Badaruddin Othman

Bruneian politician and writer (born 1942)

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Othman is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Badaruddin. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia

Badaruddin Othman

PSSUB DPMB

بدرالدين عثمان

Minister Badaruddin in 2024

3rd Minister of Religious Affairs

Incumbent

Assumed office
22 October 2015
Monarch| Hassanal Bolkiah
Deputy| Abdul Mokti
Bahrom Bahar
Tassim Hassan
Preceded by| Mohammad Abdul Rahman
4th Minister of Home Affairs
In office
29 May 2010 – 22 October 2015
Deputy| Halbi Mohammad Yussof
Preceded by| Adanan Yusuf
Succeeded by| Abu Bakar Apong

Other positions

2nd Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs
In office
25 May 2005 – 29 May 2010
Minister| Zain Serudin
Preceded by| Yahya Ibrahim
Succeeded by| Bahrom Bahar

Diplomatic positions

Ambassador of Brunei to Indonesia
In office
August 1986 – March 1987
Succeeded by| Husin Ahmad

Personal details
Born|  (1942-09-23) 23 September 1942 (age 81)
Burong Pingai Ayer, Kampong Ayer, Brunei
Children| 6; Nabil Daraina
Education| Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah
Alma mater|

* Kolej Islam Malaya
* Al-Azhar University

Occupation|

* Politician
* teacher
* writer
* diplomat

Awards| S.E.A. Write Award
Mastera Literary Award

Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Badaruddin bin Haji Othman (born 23 September 1942), pen name Badaruddin H.O.,[1] is a nobleman, politician and diplomat from Brunei who currently serves as the Minister of Religious Affairs (MoRA) since 2015.[2] He also formerly held the position of Minister of Home Affairs (MoHA) from 2010 to 2015.[3] Within the limited group of political leaders, Pehin Abdul Aziz bin Umar and Pehin Badaruddin were regarded as the two primary proponents of the Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) philosophy and the heads of the more orthodox Islamic faction.[4]

## Early life and education[edit]

Badaruddin was born on 23 September 1942, at Kampong Burong Pingai Ayer.[5] He obtained a master's degree in Islamic legal policy from Al-Azhar University in Egypt between 1968 and 1971. He also attended the Pekan Brunei Malay School between 1950 and 1956, Kolej Islam Malaya in Klang, Selangor, between 1962 and 1967, and Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah in Singapore between 1956 and 1961.[6]

## Early career[edit]

Initially, Badaruddin was employed as a teacher in 1968, but later assigned by the Government of Brunei in 1971 as a Religious Officer, he later held positions as Superintendent of Information and Tabligh,[7] Director of Information, Chief Information Officer, Director of Information, and Director of the Da'wah Islamiah Center. He began his career with the government in 1971. From August 1986 to March 1987, he then served as the non-resident high commissioner in Papua New Guinea and ambassador to Indonesia.[8] From 1 January 1989 to 1999, he served as the Prime Minister's Department's Permanent Secretary.[6][5]

Pehin Badaruddin became a Member of the Public Service Commission and Acting Chairman of the Public Service Commission from 19 May 2001 to 23 May 2005. He was appointed the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs from 24 May 2005 to 28 May 2010, and later Minister of Home Affairs from 29 May 2010 to 21 October 2015.[6][9]

## Ministerial career[edit]

Pehin Badaruddin urged the populace to immunise themselves against COVID-19 in order to protect themselves. He brought this up on 20 November 2021, in light of the relatively few MoRA employees and members of the general public who are reluctant to get immunized.[10] Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has granted permission for the Turkiye and Syria Earthquake Humanitarian Fund and the National Committee for Turkiye and Syria Earthquake Humanitarian Fund to be established in the wake of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake. Him alongside Dato Nazmi attended the committee meeting on 14 February at Digadong Hall in their capacity as special advisors.[11]

### Strict Measures for Chinese New Year Festivities[edit]

During Pehin Badaruddin's tenure in February 2015, the MoHA announced that the government of Brunei had placed severe limitations on Chinese New Year performances as part of a gradual crackdown against non-Muslim cultural and religious activities in the nation. Lion dances may only be seen for a short while on just three days (February 19–21) and on three specific locations (the temple, Chinese residences, and school hallways). It is definitely forbidden to hold performances in any kind of public space or commercial institution.[12]

### Restrictions on Christmas Celebrations[edit]

Once again under Pehin Badaruddin's leadership, MoRA has apparently visited local businesses to make sure they are not putting up Christmas decorations, such as Santa hats and banners with holiday wishes.[13] Local Islamic religious authorities have supported the ban, stating that, according to some interpretations of Islam, embracing Christmas customs was equivalent to copying another religion and is therefore forbidden.[14] MoRA stated in a statement that "these enforcement measures are... intended to control the act of celebrating Christmas excessively and openly, which could damage the aqidah of the Muslim community."[15]

### Syariah Penal Code[edit]

The government of Brunei was emphasising that the new legislation, Syariah Penal Code (2013), was not intended to discriminate and was encouraging opponents to hold off until they see how it was implemented, amid a global outrage over the country's intention to apply syariah law. According to Pehin Badaruddin, the nation sought to impose Islamic rule as early as 1974, which was ten years prior to gaining independence from Britain. But at the time, he said, the nation lacked the necessary number of qualified individuals to move on with it. Instead, they gathered the required information and sought advice from experts, and in 2007 they were able to produce a draft of the Syariah penal code.[16]

## Political positions[edit]

Brunei is a "negara zikir, negara beradat," according to Pehin Badaruddin in 2018. This phrase encapsulates the notion of a nation focused on Islamic devotional actions, God-remembrance, as well as its customs and traditions.[17] According to syariah law, children who have lost their father, children born out of wedlock or abandoned, or children disowned due to an oath taken by a husband and wife denying parenthood are all considered orphans, according to Badaruddin.[18]

### Mass media[edit]

See also: Mass media in Brunei

In 1994, the government was concerned over foreign TV broadcasts would have on the values of the nation. In response, he stated during a broadcasters' training session that Brunei needed to address the problem even if it was challenging to monitor international transmissions.[19] In 2018, he expressed the opinion that the Western mass media occasionally has a tendency to misinterpret the ideologies of the ASEAN region's governments and citizens.[20] Unaccustomed to media attention, the Bruneian government has expressed disapproval of some of this coverage, particularly from Western media outlets.[21]

Pehin Badaruddin attacked remarks made by a number of non-Legislative Council (LegCo) parties who believe his ministry's increased budget allocation was a waste and a hindrance to the nation's development strategy. In his motion of adjournment on the last day of the 15th LegCo session on 22 March 2019, the minister referred to the ideology as unwise and not local, attributing their viewpoints to those who lack comprehension and grasp of the national education policy and objectives.[22]

Social media posts that make disparaging and slanderous comments against the MoRA have the potential to undermine Islamic principles. On 1 March 2022, on the fifth day of the 18th LegCo Meeting, he stated that anyone who makes such statements may face legal repercussions.[23]

### Melayu Islam Beraja[edit]

As the Director of Information, Pehin Badaruddin defined the term MIB in two papers that were given at seminars and printed in Pelita Brunei. He restated that, conceptually speaking, the proposal was not new because Brunei has always been home to a Malay sultanate. According to him, the MIB concept holds that Brunei cannot be regarded as a multiracial, multireligious, or multicultural society even if its population also consists of non-Malays and non-Muslims.[24] He has been a prominent figure in the limited group of political leaders, leading the more orthodox branch of Islam. In the 1990s, opposing the move toward a materialistic, consumer-oriented society was a central tenet of MIB ideology.[25]

## Personal life[edit]

Pehin Badaruddin is married and has six children;[6] including Nabil Daraina.[26]

Nabil Daraina and Ramzidah Abdul Rahman, a husband and wife team have been charged with 152 counts of corruption relating to stealing more than $7 million from Brunei's judicial system. Up until January 2018, they were both senior judges in Brunei's judicial system. Police detained them in relation to the theft of money from the Bankruptcy Office of the High Court. The funds were reportedly used to purchase high-end vehicles and other valuable items worth $3.2 million.[26] Former Senior Magistrate Hj Nabil was charged with eight counts of money laundering; he was found guilty on six of them and exonerated on the other two owing to inadequate evidence.[27][28]

## Books[edit]

* Kemerdekaan (in Malay). Jabatan Penerangan, Jabatan Perdana Menteri. 1984.
* Episod-episod Si Awang (in Malay). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. 1998. ISBN 9789991701301.
* Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abd. Rahman, (Pengiran Haji) (2006). Keunggulan bahasa dan sastera Melayu/Indonesia menyongsong tatanan baru dunia (in Malay). DBP Brunei.
* Agama rasmi (in Malay). Jabatan Penerangan, Jabatan Perdana Menteri. 2008. ISBN 9789991749044.
* Hidup diharungi, mati ditempuhi (in Malay). Pusat Da'wah Islamiah, Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama. 2009. ISBN 9789991735986.
* Dari atas mimbar (in Malay). Pusat Da'wah Islamiah, Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama. 2011. ISBN 9789991755458.
* Tahu Bersyukur. Pusat Da'wah Islamiah, Kementerian Hal-Ehwal Ugama. 2011. ISBN 9789991755304.
* Takdir itu begini (in Malay). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. 2010. ISBN 9789991707082.
* Ilahi selamatkan Brunei Darussalam (in Malay). Pusat Da'wah Islamiah, Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama Negara Brunei Darussalam. 2010. ISBN 9789991755021.
* Kita terlanjur Allah maha pengampun (in Malay). Pusat Da'wah Islamiah, Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama. 2014. ISBN 9789991762500.
* Memandang ke hadapan sambil menoleh ke belakang (in Malay). Pusat Da'wah Islamiah. 2018. ISBN 9789991783376.
* Calak bangsa (in Malay). Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka Brunei, Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan. 2018. ISBN 9789991768298.
* Dari atas mimbar (in Malay). Pusat Da'wah Islamiah. 2020. ISBN 9789991783772.
* Hemat2 (in Malay). Pusat Da'wah Islamiah. 2020. ISBN 9789991783840.

## Awards and honours[edit]

Pehin Badaruddin holds the manteri title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia. Additionally, he has earned the following awards and honours;[6][29]

### Awards[edit]

* Lee Kuan Yew Fellowship (1995)
* S.E.A Write Award (1998)[30]
* Mastera Literary Award (1999)

### Honours[edit]

Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei

* Order of Islam Brunei First Class (PSSUB; 1998) – Dato Paduka Seri Setia
* Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 1987) – Dato Paduka
* Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 2010)
* Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI; 2002)
* Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 1998)
* Long Service Medal (PKL; 1999)
* Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
* Proclamation of Independence Medal (1997)

## References[edit]

1. ^ Journal of Asian Affairs. Center for Asian Studies, State University of New York at Buffalo. 1979. p. 90.
2. ^ "New Cabinet unveiled » Borneo Bulletin Online". New Cabinet unveiled. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
3. ^ Lansford, Tom; Muller, Tom (2 April 2012). Political Handbook of the World 2012. SAGE. p. 186\. ISBN 978-1-60871-995-2.
4. ^ Poole, Peter A. (18 November 2014). Politics and Society in Southeast Asia. McFarland. p. 150\. ISBN 978-0-7864-5802-8.
5. ^ a b Sidhu, Jatswan S. (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 31\. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
6. ^ a b c d e "Laman Utama - Menteri Hal Ehwal Ugama". www.mora.gov.bn. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
7. ^ Kershaw, Roger (4 January 2002). Monarchy in South East Asia: The Faces of Tradition in Transition. Routledge. p. 229\. ISBN 978-1-134-66707-9.
8. ^ Sidhu, Jatswan S. (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 31\. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
9. ^ The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2010. Oxford Business Group. 2010. p. 15\. ISBN 978-1-907065-29-3.
10. ^ "Unvaccinated in Brunei urged to get in queue". The Star. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
11. ^ "Brunei sets up humanitarian fund for Turkiye and Syria". The Star. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
12. ^ Parameswaran, Prashanth. "Brunei Cracks Down on Chinese New Year". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
13. ^ "Foreigners vacate Brunei, where Christmas is banned - UCA News". ucanews.com. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
14. ^ Sehmer, Alexander (22 December 2015). "Brunei bans Christmas: Sultan warns those celebrating could face up to five years in jail". independent. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
15. ^ Murdoch, Lindsay (22 December 2015). "Brunei bans Christmas celebrations in public, including wearing Santa hats". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
16. ^ Correspondent, Eileen Ng (12 April 2019). "Brunei defends move to implement syariah law amid global outrage". www.straitstimes.com. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
17. ^ Samad, Nur E’zzati Rasyidah (2023), Kwen Fee, Lian; Carnegie, Paul J.; Hassan, Noor Hasharina (eds.), "Traditional Malay Marriage Ceremonies in Brunei Darussalam: Between Adat and Syariah", (Re)presenting Brunei Darussalam: A Sociology of the Everyday, Asia in Transition, Singapore: Springer Nature, pp. 15–33, doi:10.1007/978-981-19-6059-8_2, ISBN 978-981-19-6059-8, retrieved 5 January 2024
18. ^ BEGAWAN, Quratul-Ain Bandial BANDAR SERI (2 April 2016). "Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman". Islam In Indonesia. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
19. ^ The Muslim World. Motamar al-Alam al-Islami; World Muslim Congress. 1994. p. 7.
20. ^ Singh, Daljit; Cook, Malcolm (21 November 2018). Turning Points and Transitions: Selections from Southeast Asian Affairs 1974–2018. ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. p. 188\. ISBN 978-981-4843-07-2.
21. ^ Southeast Asian Affairs. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. 1985. p. 107.
22. ^ Hayat, Hakim (23 March 2019). "76 per cent of MoRA budget for religious education: Minister". borneobulletin.com.bn. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
23. ^ Othman, Azlan (2 March 2022). "Slanderous remarks against MoRA punishable » Borneo Bulletin Online". borneobulletin.com.bn. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
24. ^ Siddique, Sharon (11 June 2018), "Brunei Darussalam in 1985: A Year of Nation-Building", Brunei Darussalam in 1985: A Year of Nation-Building, ISEAS Publishing, pp. 45–52, doi:10.1355/9789812306760-006/html?lang=de, ISBN 978-981-230-676-0, retrieved 22 April 2024
25. ^ Poole, Peter A. (18 November 2014). Politics and Society in Southeast Asia. McFarland. p. 150\. ISBN 978-0-7864-5802-8.
26. ^ a b Ain Bandial (23 July 2018). "Disgraced judges accused of stealing $7mn from court coffers". The Scoop. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
27. ^ Ain Bandial (15 January 2020). "Ex-judges convicted of siphoning over $15mn from Bankruptcy Office". The Scoop. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
28. ^ "Extra jail time on the cards for former judiciary couple in Brunei". The Star. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
29. ^ "Keluaran Khas Sempena Pelantikan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet dan Timbalan-Timbalan Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 12 June 2010. p. 6.
30. ^ "Badaruddin H.O. :S.E.A Write Award 1998. – National Library". www.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 26 May 2023.

Diplomatic posts

Preceded by

|  Ambassador of Brunei to Indonesia
August 1986 – March 1987  | Succeeded by

Husin Ahmad

Political offices
Preceded by

Mohammad Abdul Rahman

|  3rd Minister of Religious Affairs
22 October 2015 – present  |  Succeeded by

Incumbent

Preceded by

Adanan Yusuf

|  4th Minister of Home Affairs
29 May 2010 – 22 October 2015  | Succeeded by

Abu Bakar Apong

Preceded by

Yahya Ibrahim

|  2nd Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs
25 May 2005 – 29 May 2010  | Succeeded by

Bahrom Bahar

* v
* t
* e

Cabinet of Brunei current members (2022–)

Prime Minister|

* Hassanal Bolkiah

Senior Minister|

* Al-Muhtadee Billah

Ministers|

* Shamhary Mustapha
* Nazmi Mohamad
* Abdul Manaf Metussin
* Romaizah Mohd Salleh
* Amin Liew Abdullah
* Juanda Abdul Rashid
* Isa Ibrahim
* Erywan Yusof
* Halbi Mohd Yussof
* Isham Jaafar
* Ahmaddin Abdul Rahman
* Badaruddin Othman

Deputy Ministers|

* Riza Yunos
* Sufian Sabtu
* Azmi Mohd Hanifah
* Matsatejo SokiawX
* Abdul Razak
* Khairuddin Abdul Hamid
* Zety Sufina
* Tassim Hassan

* v
* t
* e

Cabinet of Brunei 2018–2022

Prime Minister|

* Hassanal Bolkiah

Senior Minister|

* Al-Muhtadee Billah

Ministers|

* Isa Ibrahim
* Abdul Mokti
* Halbi Mohd Yussof
* Amin Liew Abdullah
* Erywan Yusof
* Abu Bakar Apong
* Badaruddin Othman
* Ali Apong
* Isham Jaafar
* Suhaimi Gafar
* Mat Suny
* Hamzah Sulaiman
* Abdul Mutalib
* Aminuddin Ihsan

Deputy Ministers|

* Matsatejo Sokiaw
* Romaizah Mohd Salleh
* Ahmaddin Abdul Rahman
* Elinda C.A. MohammadX
* Bahrom Bahar

* v
* t
* e

Cabinet of Brunei 2015–2018

Prime Minister|

* Hassanal Bolkiah

Senior Minister|

* Al-Muhtadee Billah

Ministers|

* Abdul Rahman Ibrahim
* Ali Apong
* Abu Bakar Apong
* Badaruddin Othman
* Halbi Mohd Yussof
* Bahrin Abdullah
* Lim Jock Seng
* Yasmin Umar
* Mustappa Sirat
* Suyoi Osman
* Zulkarnain Hanafi

Deputy Ministers|

* Abdul Aziz
* Abdul Mokti
* Erywan Yusof
* Hamdan Abu Bakar
* Hisham Mohd Hanifah
* Amin Liew Abdullah
* Mohd Roselan
* Bahrom Bahar
* Suhaimi Gafar

* v
* t
* e

Cabinet of Brunei 2010–2015

Prime Minister|

* Hassanal Bolkiah

Senior Minister|

* Al-Muhtadee Billah

Ministers|

* Mohamed Bolkiah
* Abdul Rahman Ibrahim
* Abdullah Bakar
* Adanan Yusuf
* Abu Bakar Apong
* Badaruddin Othman
* Hazair Abdullah
* Lim Jock Seng
* Yasmin Umar
* Mohammad Abdul Rahman
* Suyoi Osman
* Yahya Bakar

Deputy Ministers|

* Abd. Wahab
* Adina Othman
* Ali Apong
* Halbi Mohd Yussof
* Bahrin Abdullah
* Mustappa Sirat
* Bahrom Bahar
* Yusoff Ismail

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